Month: April 2017

COMING MAY 2! THE ONE MEMORY OF FLORA BANKS BY EMILY BARR

The One Memory of Flora Banks

Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora’s brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend’s boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora’s fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world, Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life. 

With little more than the words “be brave” inked into her skin, and written reminders of who she is and why her memory is so limited, Flora sets off on an impossible journey to Svalbard, Norway, the land of the midnight sun, determined to find Drake. But from the moment she arrives in the arctic, nothing is quite as it seems, and Flora must “be brave” if she is ever to learn the truth about herself, and to make it safely home.

In my efforts to read more YA I saw this book and the blurb sounded intriguing. And it is. You most definitely don’t have to be a YA to enjoy this. Any and all lovers of good stories will find it spellbinding!

I almost hate to say anything about the story other than the blurb. So let me say I loved this story! I loved Flora Banks. She can remember everything that happened before she was 10, but she is unable to retain any new memories for longer than a few hours.

Until one day something happens and that one memory sticks. Clinging to the hope that this could be a miracle that only this one boy in this one memory can solve, she resolves to track him down. In the Arctic. Alone.

That mix of bravery and sheer determination makes her one of the most interesting characters I’ve come across. I read this straight through in one sitting. I couldn’t stop any more than Flora could!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this beautiful story!  Release Date set for May 2 OR THIS TUESDAY!

Green…The Prime Color of the World…

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I am in a Green Mood today. Probably because it’s almost May!! Who doesn’t love May? All kinds of good things come with May. Like my birthstone, the emerald, Ireland, home of my mother’s people and the green I associate with my Daddy’s side of the family.

That new spring green that is popping out on trees and the neighbors lawns. Tiny little shoots of green struggling up through the warm dirt to meet the sun. Green is the color of life in Mother Nature’s realm.

As I sit here this morning I am looking at a picture taken at the cemetery when my father left on his next big adventure, and it’s so green and beautiful that I’m left wondering how a place of death can look so full of life?  For me this cemetary is full of my life. Here are my grandparents along with my great-grandparents who came from Scotland when my grandpa was 2. After a short stop in Canada, they took about 3 steps into North Dakota and said, that’s good.

byedaddy

Have a fun weekend and appreciate what Spring brings us!

xx Patricia

FERN MICHAELS THE GODMOTHERS PART TWO: SPIRITED AWAY

The Godmothers: Spirited Away

Part Two of the New Three-Part Godmothers Serial!
The best of friends, Toots, Ida, Mavis, and Sophie have been there for each other through thick and thin. Now Sophie needs the rest of the Godmothers to help her through something they’ve never faced before . . .
There are no secrets between best friends. At least, Teresa “Toots” Loudenberry has always believed that to be the case. In the decades since she, Sophie, Ida, and Mavis met in Catholic school, they’ve shared all the joys and hardships of their colorful, extraordinary adventures. But right now, Toots can tell that Sophie is hiding something.

Sophie wishes she could confide in Toots. But she can’t reveal her hunch about her home’s history and the unhappiness that still seems to linger there. There’s too much at stake, including the safety of Toots’ daughter Abby and her twin girls. But though Toots, Ida, and Mavis are all entering new phases in their lives—and love lives—they won’t let Sophie face this challenge on her own . . .

I was really excited about this new novella series. These women have been friends since 7th grade and they have had some adventures.

In this second book, they have all moved to Charleston,South Carolina and Sophie is hiding a secret from the others. But not for long. Toots is way too nosy for that!

Somewhere in Sophie’s new house is a spirit that looks like it is there to destroy the entire house. Bt Sophie knows there is a story here and she will get to the bottom of it with help from her friends.

Nobody does strong women better than Fern Michaels. For some reason I feel better about life in general after reading her stories!

Good Job with this one and can’t wait for the next!   This one is out May 9th so check it out!

Gloomy Days and Cozy Mysteries☁📚

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Gloomy days are the perfect time to snuggle under the duvet and grab a cozy mystery and a cup of tea.

Today is an off day for me and that is exactly what I’m planning!☕📖

Along with binge watching Netflix. Here is a question for you all (Cynthia)…What do you watch on Netflix? I’m waiting for Game of Thrones and Vikings which are not on now so give me some suggestions!!!!❤

xx 5ef7878b0fbf3afdf2e4b161bcf6652e

I Found You by Lisa Jewell Release Day!

I Found You: A Novel by [Jewell, Lisa]

Lisa Jewell is one of those authors who never disappoints. And this is no exception!

Living in Yorkshire, single mom, Alice looks out her window to find a man sitting on the beach staring into the sea. He hasn’t moved. At all. Even when the rain started. He has no idea how he got here or even who he is. But Alice takes him in the same way she takes in homeless dogs. With no husband and 3 kids to care for, she should be a little more cautious bringing strange men into her house, but that’s not Alice.

At the same time 21 year old Lily Monrose has been married to her adoring husband for only a few weeks when he just doesn’t come home one night. Lily knows no one in this foreign place. When she goes to the police she finds out her husband doesn’t exist.

Told from alternating points of view and time, the book is a thrill ride from beginning to end. There were so many twists and turns and odd characters. Most lovable but some not so much.

Will ‘Frank’ get his memory back? Will Lily find her husband? And what connects them all? I must admit I cried like a baby in the end.

I would have no problem recommending this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Jewell (born 19th July 1968, Middlesex, London) is a popular British author of chick lit fiction. Her books include Ralph’s Party, Thirtynothing and most recently 31 Dream Street. She lives in Swiss Cottage, London with her husband Jascha and daughters Amelie Mae (born 2003) and Evie Scarlett (born 2007).

No Charm Intended A Cora Crafts Mystery by Mollie Cox Bryan

No Charm Intended

Cora and her best friend Jane are back with another weekend craft retreat. This time the theme is wild crafting and after the last retreat they could use a smooth week end filled with food, crafting, and friendship.

Settling into her new life and career in small-town Indigo Gap, North Carolina, Cora Chevalier is preparing to host a wildcrafting retreat at her Victorian home, Kildare House. But on day one, Cora wakes up to a disturbing text. I kidnapped her.  Is this some weird wrong number or is something going on.

Gracie, a seemingly lovely girl who is a student,nanny and part time sitter for London, Jane’s daughter, is missing.

When the police arrive Cora finds out she isn’t the only one who received weird texts and when Gracie’s boyfriend, Paul, and their good friend Henry show up at Kildare House scared and worried, rambling on about some game they all played on line and how they need Cora’s help to find her before something really bad happens.

Cora isn’t sure if Paul is involved, but lets him stay at Kildare House, as she and Jane and of course the crafters put their heads together and get to work on solving a crime and having a great time at the retreat.I can tell you I did not see that ending coming!

This is the second book in the Cora Crafts series and you can tell. The characters are developing very well. In the first book I wasn’t a huge fan of Jane, but this time was different. There was an easiness about them that was very believable. As if all the kinks have been worked out.

I especially enjoyed seeing a couple of the gals from the Cumberland Creek Series. I think that meshed quite well and hope to see more of the cross over. I also like that Cora isn’t a ditzy, frazzled, overweight main character as so many are in cozy mysteries. She is easy to relate to especially if you have any type of anxiety disorders. And I appreciate that.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for this one!

Click here to read more about Mollie’s books and her other series.   Amazon

Biography

molliecox

Mollie Cox Bryan writes cozy mysteries with edge and romances with slow, sweet burn. She wrote the Agatha-award nominated Cumberland Creek Mysteries. Several of the books in that series where short-listed for the Virginia Library People’s Choice Award. The first book in her new mystery series, “Cora Crafts Mysteries.” is DEATH AMONG THE DOILIES, which was selected as “Fresh Fiction Not to Miss” title. She’s also penned a historical fiction: MEMORY OF LIGHT: AN AFTERMATH OF GETTYSBURG, the Kindle World’s bestselling romance novella, THE BEEKEEPER’S BRIDE, A ST. HELENA VINEYARD KINDLE WORLD novella, and the soon-to be released, EVERY FIBER OF YOU, A ST. HELENA VINEYARD KINDLE WORLD novella. She makes her home at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley, Va.

The Body In The Ice by A.J.Mackenzie

The Body in the Ice

Christmas Day, Kent, 1796
On the frozen fields of Romney Marsh stands New Hall; silent, lifeless, deserted. In its grounds lies an unexpected Christmas offering: a corpse, frozen into the ice of a horse pond.

It falls to the Reverend Hardcastle, justice of the peace in St Mary in the Marsh, to investigate. But with the victim’s identity unknown, no murder weapon and no known motive, it seems like an impossible task. Working along with his trusted friend, Amelia Chaytor, and new arrival Captain Edward Austen, Hardcastle soon discovers there is more to the mystery than there first appeared.

With the arrival of an American family torn apart by war and desperate to reclaim their ancestral home, a French spy returning to the scene of his crimes, ancient loyalties and new vengeance combine to make Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor’s attempts to discover the secret of New Hall all the more dangerous.

The good widow Amelia Chaytor is trying to enjoy a Christmas meal with friends when her servant rushes in with news of a dead body half in the frozen horse pond up at New Hall, where he had been pilfering some firewood.

The ever so curious widow marches straight up to find out what is going on. On finding a body, they send for the good Reverand Hardcastle, Rector and Justice of the Peace in this small village.

Now they must figure out who the person is and what were they doing at the abandoned New Hall?

This is a hard time in history for both the violent and turbulence going on in the Americas, fresh from winning their independence from England, to the spies in England who would like to take England for the French and with America form a powerhouse allegiance. There is a shortage of able-bodied men which means the good Hardcastle and Mrs. Chaytor have very little help trying to find the truth.

When the owners of New Hall show up more questions than answers are found.

This is the second book featuring Hardcastle and Chaytor in St. Mary in the Marsh and I am a big fan of this historical mystery writing. And while quite a bit of this story may have happened. It is a fine tale!

About the Author:

A.J. MacKenzie is the pseudonym of Marilyn Livingstone and Morgen Witzel, a collaborative Anglo-Canadian husband-and-wife duo. Between them they have written more than twenty non-fiction and academic titles, with specialisms including management, medieval economic history and medieval warfare. THE BODY ON THE DOORSTEP (2016) was their first novel.

Who Has The Key To Your Happiness?

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Busy, busy reading and writing day today. So of course the Sun is shining brightly through my office window practically begging me to come sit in the sunshine.

The mess from the storm has been picked up and I made my bed so it’s a good day.

This has been one of those weeks where I needed to take stock, as my Grandpa says. Take stock of the people and things that have inched their way into my world. Not necessarily bad although some have been a bit scary.

I like being alone. I’m not lonely. I just prefer to be alone. My therapist asked me if I thought it was because I can better control my anxiety alone. But that’s not it. I just have a long list of things I want to do, read, experience and I don’t like having to check in with people to make them feel better. I come, I go. I talk, I don’t talk. I am very comfortable alone.  Someone sent me a quote recently that said ” You come home, grab a book and a cup of tea. You decide if that’s lonely or perfect.” It is perfect. For me and this girl I am in love with, who looks a lot like me!

 

xx Good Reading!       thespy2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©piratepatty

Cleaning up the damage🌏🌏

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Today is Earth Day. Which seems wrong as Mother Nature opened up the gates of Hell yesterday! It rained and blew and there was no power for hours. Flooding roads out and rearranging. If your neighbor’s trampoline is now in your yard, is it yours now? Or the carport just installed now covering the neighbor’s house? What a mess we have to clean up today.

Happy Earth Day 🌏

The Legend of the Silver Skinner by John Mowbray

The Legend of the Silver Skinner by [Mowbray, John]

A pirate’s life is one of constant peril, it changes a man in many ways. It can twist and darken their soul beyond recognition. Haroway was no exception, his whole world was transformed the day he stepped aboard the infamous Captain Black’s ship.

He travels through strange kingdoms and treacherous seas. Unbeknown to Haroway, his life is silently governed by one witch’s dark premonition, leading him to his destiny.

Unlikely friendships are made, morals are compromised and heartbreak is inevitable in this journey of the Silver Skinner.

I saw this book and loved the cover. Also it was about pirates so how could I not read it?

Haroway has left his home. A quiet out of the way land of green beauty. When he lands on board Black’s ship, his life will never be the same. All of the characters were so well developed you either loved them or hated them. Of course I’m always rooting for the pirates. Although these pirates had no trouble siding with the government to take down a mutual enemy.

The respect they showed one another and the honor they showed made this book even better.

This isn’t a very long book, but it was one I didn’t put down until I finished it! A great pirate story and I can’t wait to see what is next for this author!

Check it out

xx Patricia